A simple single molecular precursor route in the synthesis of high quality SnS nanoparticles

• Tetrathiourea tin(II) chloride complex was used as precursor in the synthesis of SnS nanoparticles.
• High quality SnS nanoparticles with different morphologies and sizes were obtained.
• Analytical techniques such as UV-Vis-NIR, SEM-EDX, TEM, HRTEM and XRD were used for characterisation of these material.

Tetrathiourea tin(II) chloride complex was used as a single molecular precursor for the synthesis of high quality tin sulfide nanoparticles with different morphologies. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy confirmed the metal to sulphur ratio as 1:1 with no impurity. The transmission electron microscopy images showed the close to spherical shapes with an average particle size of 52.86 nm. High-resolution electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis confirm the orthorhombic crystal phase with a lattice spacing of 0.29 and 0.36 nm, assigned to (101) and (120) planes.